Here go you:
First, a correction to the info in yesterday’s email – the recommendation regarding the ferry across the Shannon will be on Day 3 – the drive from Lahinch to Ballybunion.
Regarding additional courses:
In the Dublin area, best other courses are County Louth (Baltray) which is about an hour north of Portmarnock and The European Club which is about 90 minutes south, so playing either might add a day to the trip. Would not substitute either for Portmarnock.
On the drive south from Lahinch is Doonbeg, great course designed by Greg Norman and now owned by Trump. They used to require that you stay in their very expensive lodging in order to play the course – not sure if that is still the case.
In the southwest, there is a new course in Waterville area – Hogs Head – that I have heard is very good but have not seen it.
The course at Adare Manor Castle (fairly close to Shannon airport) was redone by Tom Fazio several years ago and I understand it is superb but I have not seen it. Would not sub it for any of the other courses. It is a “parkland” course, not a links course.
Most of the other top courses are in the northwest (Carne, Sligo) or in Northern Ireland (County Down and Portrush)